In Sermon Illustrations: "Not Hearers Only"

Crucufixion

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

David Smith writes about crucifixion. They would take the upright beam and place it in a hole in the ground and fix it steadfast. And then they would take the victim and lay his hands on the cross beam, driving spikes into his quivering flesh and with a rope would hook it onto the cross beam and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:33-38

Tags: Crucifixion, Death On A Cross

Denomination: Methodist

Rain Man Doesn't Understand Inheritance

Contributed by David Ward on Feb 25, 2016

"Rain Man" was the top moneymaking film of 1988, and also won the Oscar for Best Picture. It tells the story of an abrasive and selfish wheeler-dealer named Charlie (Tom Cruise), who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed all of his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Tags: Eternal Inheritance, Treasures In Heaven, Priorities, Wealth And Riches

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No One Thanked Him.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

Back in 1860, an excursion boat on Lake Michigan collided with a freighter and began to sink less than a mile from the shore. Hundreds of passengers began screaming as they leaped into the icy water. Edward Spencer was a student at a nearby seminary, and he ran down to the beach to see what he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Selfishness, Depression

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grace Story/Joke

Contributed by Bruce Blythe on Apr 13, 2021

There are not many stories/jokes that illustrate Grace (plenty of definitions of Grace though!) so I made this one up for my sermon on Romans 11 (Reciprocity No, Grace Yes). Hope people find it helpful. Blessings. Bruce A Jew, an Islamic and a Christian were drinking coffee on a ship. Then the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Grace Alone, By Grace We Are Saved, Reciprocity

Denomination: Baptist

Our Weakness

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Apr 13, 2021

When I was in my early 20s and a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, I was, believe it or not, in pretty good shape. I jogged regularly. I was a karate student. I went to the gym 4-5 times a week. I truly was in good shape. Now that I’m older, I’m realizing that I’m not what I used to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:29-31

Tags: Weakness, God's Strength, God Sustains

Denomination: Baptist

A Great Thanksgiving Illustration

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Back in 1860, an excursion boat on Lake Michigan collided with a freighter and began to sink less than a mile from the shore. Hundreds of passengers began screaming as they leaped into the icy water. Edward Spencer was a student at a nearby seminary, and he ran down to the beach to see what he ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Simple Confession, Profound Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

In 1818 one out of six women who had children died of something called “childbirth fever.” A doctor’s daily routine back then started in the dissecting room, where he performed autopsies, and from there he made his rounds to examine expectant mothers. No one even thought to wash his hands...at ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Meekness When Inconvenienced

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 20, 2023

Charles Spurgeon tells the story of an archbishop who lived in a small house in Scotland. He had only one employee, but the employee tended to be forgetful. One day the employee got up before the bishop and decided to go fishing. As he headed out, he locked his Archbishop Leighton in the house with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5, Matthew 11:28-29, 1 Timothy 6:11

Tags: Gentle, Humility, Meekness, Contentment, Meek, Gentleness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Do Americans Believe In Supernatural Healing?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 9, 2024

Americans hold diverse spiritual beliefs when it comes to healing and the supernatural. Let’s explore some of these perspectives: 1. Belief in God or a Higher Power: Over 90% of U.S. adults believe in God or another higher power. Among them: 54% believe in “God as described in the Bible.” 34% ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hell, Healing, Heaven, America, Prayer, Miracles, Atheists  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Yesterday Today & Tomorrow

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 22, 2024

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is YESTERDAY with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. YESTERDAY has passed forever beyond our control. All the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:34

Tags: Worry, Tomorrow, Today, Yesterday, Trouble  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Is He Welcome

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 21, 2025

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Sadly, there are many buildings with church on the sign that Jesus is knocking on the door to get in. Some He has never been in and others He had been in but they turned Him by denying the Scriptures. Many people in those buildings ...read more

Scripture: John 1:11

Tags: Service, Wash, Salvation, Confession, Presence, Apostasy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Prayer Before The U.s. Senate. "Lord Jesus, ...

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Mar 28, 2005

A prayer before the U.S. Senate. “Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

Tags: Political Freedom

Denomination: Baptist

At The Head Table In The Cafeteria, One Of The ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 21, 2005

At the head table in the cafeteria, one of the teachers had placed a big bowl of bright red, fresh, juicy apples. Beside the bowl, she placed a note that read, "Take only one. Remember, God is watching." At the other end of the table was a bowl full of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, still ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Have A One Year Old Girl And A Three Year Old ...

Contributed by Michael Thomas on Nov 12, 2005

I have a one year old girl and a three year old boy. I wrestle with keeping our shopping list for our children to only a couple items each. Our kids have more stuff than they really need and what they need more of is time with dad and mom. If you tell yourself that you have to buy more stuff, ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Lutheran

Near The End Of His Life, Jean-Paul Sartre Told ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

Near the end of his life, Jean-Paul Sartre told Pierre Victor: “I do not feel that I am the product of chance, a speck of dust in the universe, but someone who was expected, prepared, prefigured. In short, a being whom only a Creator could put here; and this idea of a creating hand refers to God. ...read more

Tags: Apologetics God

Motherhood Issues A Recent Poll By Wahara.com ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 3, 2006

Motherhood Issues A recent poll by Wahara.com finds 79% of mothers list personal, emotional and physical challenges as their hardest. Women know children are time consuming and demanding, but what these women are finding is that children are ALL consuming and ALL demanding. 38% reported sleep ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Fewer Men In Church: In 1990, Church ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006

Fewer Men In Church: In 1990, church sociologist George Barna found that 40% of the men he polled had some kind of church relationship. That figure has now slipped to 26%. The situation is probably even worse than this data indicates. Many men are in church on Sunday only because their wives and ...read more

Tags: Men And Women

Longer Engagements Bride's Magazine Finds The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

Longer Engagements Bride’s magazine finds the average length of engagements rising sharply during this decade, from 11 months in ’90 to 13 months now. The study reports 27% of weddings are paid for by the couple, with the bride’s father picking the whole tab only 19% of the time. The tab is ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

According To Hewitt Associates Llc Survey Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

According to Hewitt Associates LLC survey of over 1000 U.S. companies, 69% now offer flexible schedules, (up from only 58% in ’92) to help employees balance career and family. More and mmore full-time employed parents say their company asks too much at the expense of family. The current issue of ...read more

Tags: Workplace Balance

According To The Israeli Press, Psychiatrists Are ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 9, 2006

According to the Israeli press, psychiatrists are expecting an increase in a condition the have labeled, “Jerusalem Syndrome.” For many years mental heath workers have treated tourists who become emotionally overwhelmed by a visit to the Holy Land. Although some are only temporarily caught up in an ...read more

Tags: Character